Dual Stream Recycling

City of Wilkes-Barre Recycling

As a "mandated municipality" the City of Wilkes-Barre is mandated to recycle, according to Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulation, the Pennsylvania Municipal Waste, Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act of 1988 (ACT 101). Under the Act, items required to be recycled include: Aluminum, Steel & Bimetallic Cans, Newsprint, and Leaf Waste

Recycling various items reduces the amount of waste going into landfills, decreases disposal costs, saves natural resources, and lessens pollution risks.


On May 3, 2021, the City of Wilkes-Barre will begin Dual Stream Recycling. Dual Stream Recycling keeps paper and cardboard products separate from glass and plastic containers and metal cans. Some of the benefits of Dual Stream Recycling are less contamination, higher quality and more valuable recovered material, and lower costs to process the collected recyclables.

Dual Stream Recycling ENG

Dual Stream ESP


Recycling Schedule

All recycling is to be placed at the curb on your scheduled day by 7:00 AM (Labor Day through Memorial Day) and by 6:00 AM (Memorial Day through Labor Day). 

Paper and cardboard collection and plastic, bottles, and metal can collection will alternate each week.

Visit the City Calendar for the type of collection each week, or view the recycling schedule (Horario de recogida de doble flujo) below. 

If you are unsure of your collection day, please use the collection schedule map or call 570.821.1111, Option 1 to determine it.

DayNeighborhood
MondayDowntown, South Wilkes-Barre 1
TuesdayNorth End, Heights, Brookside
WednesdayMayflower, Rolling Mill Hill, Iron Triangle, Goose Island
ThursdaySouth Wilkes-Barre 2
FridayEast End, Parsons, Miners Mills
2024 Recycling Collection Schedule

January 29-February 2

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

August 5-9

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

February 5-9

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

August 12-16

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

February 12-16

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

August 19-23

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

February 19-23 (Holiday Feb. 19th)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

August 26-30

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

February 26-March 1

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

September 2-6 (Holiday September 2nd)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

March 4-8

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

September 9-13

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

March 11-15

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

September 16-20

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

March 18-22

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

September 23-27

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

March 25-29 (Holiday April 29th)

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

September 30-October 4

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

April 1-5

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

October 7-11

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

April 8-12

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

October 14-18 (Holiday October 14th)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

April 15-19

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

October 21-25

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

April 22-26

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

October 28-November 1

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

April 29-May 3

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

November 4-8

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

May 6-10

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

November 11-15 (Holiday Nov 11th)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

May 13-17

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

November 18-22 

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

May 20-24

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

November 25-29 (Holidays Nov 28th & 29th)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

May 27-31 (Holiday May 27th)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

December 2-6

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

June 3-7

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

December 9-13

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

June 10-14 (Holiday June 14th)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

December 16-20

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

June 17-21

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

December 23-27 (Holiday Dec 25th)

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

June 24-28

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

December 30-January 3, 2025 (Holiday Jan 1st)

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

July 1-5 (Holiday July 4th)

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

January 6-10, 2025

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

July 8-12

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

January 13-17, 2025

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

July 15-19

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

January 20-24 2025

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

July 22-26

Paper & Cardboard Recycling

January 27-31 2025

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

July 29-August 2

Cans/Bottles/Plastic Recycling

February 3-7, 2025

Paper & Cardboard Recycling


Recycling Rules

Please follow the rules below to help eliminate garbage going into the recycling stream:

  • Recycling will not be collected if it is in plastic bags.
  • Recyclables must be clean of food and beverage debris and visible to DPW crews. 
  • Compact cardboard and dispose of cardboard and paper in the recycling bins as best as possible, especially when there is rain or snow.
  • Do not overload recycling bins.

Recyclables will be collected from:

  • City-Issued Recycling Bins (There are currently no additional bins available at this time)
  • Similarly Sized Recycling Bins Purchased by Residents (available at home improvement stores)

Recycling Drop Off Site 

In an effort to increase and promote more recycling in the City of Wilkes-Barre, residents (ID Required) may utilize the recycling drop off dumpsters are located at:

Department of Public Works Garage
3 Conyngham Avenue, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711. 
The drop off hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Labor Day through Memorial Day) and 6:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Memorial Day through Labor Day).